What Is the Social Security EIN Number and How Can You Find It?
Learn about the Social Security Administration's EIN, its uses, and how to locate and verify this essential number.
Understanding the Social Security EIN number is crucial for businesses and individuals interacting with government processes. This unique identifier plays a key role in administrative tasks, making it essential to know how to locate and verify it accurately.
Purpose of the Administration’s EIN
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify business entities for tax purposes, similar to how a Social Security Number identifies individuals. Businesses need an EIN for filing tax returns, opening business bank accounts, applying for licenses, and reporting employment taxes, including federal income tax withholding, Social Security, and Medicare taxes.
The EIN is also essential for verifying business credit applications and entering contracts, reducing the risk of fraud. Non-profit organizations use an EIN to apply for tax-exempt status under IRS Section 501(c)(3). For the IRS, the EIN helps enforce tax laws, track financial activities, and ensure timely tax payments.
Documents Requiring the Number
The EIN is required on several tax forms. Employers report income taxes and Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from employees on Form 941, the Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, and report annual unemployment taxes on Form 940 under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA).
It is also necessary on W-2 and W-3 forms, which report employee wages and summarize those reports for the Social Security Administration. Businesses involved in international trade must include the EIN on Electronic Export Information (EEI) filings through the Automated Export System (AES). Financial institutions require the EIN on loan and business credit applications to confirm identity and assess creditworthiness.
Locating and Verifying the Official EIN
To find an EIN, businesses should refer to the confirmation letter received from the IRS during registration. If the letter is lost, the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line can assist, provided the requester has proper identification for verification.
To verify an EIN when dealing with third parties, businesses can use the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search tool or cross-reference it with official documents like tax returns or business licenses. Keeping organized records of all documents containing the EIN is essential to prevent issues like identity theft.
Distinguishing an SSN From an EIN
The Social Security Number (SSN) and Employer Identification Number (EIN) are both nine-digit identifiers but serve different purposes. An SSN is issued to individuals by the Social Security Administration to track earnings and benefits and is used in personal tax filings and credit applications.
In contrast, the EIN identifies businesses for corporate tax obligations. While both are critical in their respective areas, the SSN is tied to personal income and social benefits, whereas the EIN relates to business operations. The SSN is protected under privacy laws, while the EIN often appears in public business records.